Research Publications (Food Safety)

Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are important foodborne pathogens which are threatened to human health seriously.

Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. are known as the leading causes of food poisoning worldwide. In this study, we developed a new multiple fluorescent saltatory rolling circle amplification (MF-SRCA) assay for simultaneous and sensitive detection of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. in food based on the generation of real-time fluorescence curves that distinguish the positive from the negative samples.

“Torta del Casar” cheese is a high-quality cheese made with raw whole sheep's milk with quite broad commercialisation in Europe. This cheese, like other similar ones made with raw milk, are very susceptible to contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. In this work, the effect of two selected protective cultures of Lacticaseibacillus casei 116 and Lactococcus garvieae 151 on the reduction of L.

Campylobacter is one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide. A new smartphone-assisted high-throughput integrated color-sensing platform, called the HICS platform, was developed for the rapid detection of Campylobacter coli. This platform was based on the visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification method. Using this system, as many as 64 samples could be assessed in less than an hour after enrichment.

The attachment, biofilm formation and control of biofilm formed by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) ATCC 17802 on four stainless steel (SS) coupons which are different in type or finishing, 316L, 304, 430 with 2B finish and 304 with BA finish, were studied. SS coupons were subjected to surface roughness measurement using Atomic Force Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis and poses potential threats to human health. Ovotransferrin (OT) is an egg white protein with many functional properties.

Listeria monocytogenes and Corynebacterium diphtheriae are typical bacterial pathogens and pose an increasing threat to food safety and human health due to their growing antibiotic resistance. In this study, biological selenium nanoparticles (Bio-SeNPs) were synthesized by Moringa oleifera extract and selenite.

Objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of acetic acid to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes when added to artificial brine for mozzarella storage. L.

Due to riching in polyphenolic compounds, betalains, and ascorbic acid, beetroot (Beta vulgaris) extract exhibits an antibacterial activity. However, its effect on Listeria monocytogenes is unclear. In this study, the antibacterial activity of beetroot extract against L. monocytogenes was assessed by measuring its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the time-kill curve. Results revealed that the MIC of beetroot extract against L.

Endolysins encoded by bacteriophages are considered bacteriostatic agents for the prevention of pathogenic bacteria proliferations. In this study, a possible endolysin from bacteriophage JN01, namely LysJN01, belonging to the lysozyme-like superfamily, was cloned, expressed and characterized. Meanwhile, the bactericidal activity of recombinant LysJN01 (rLysJN01) against E. coli O157:H7 was evaluated in Tris-HCl buffer and on lettuce.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin mainly produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum and is commonly found in cereals such as wheat, barley, oats, and their derivatives. Scientists have been working on different strategies for DON detoxification, with biological detoxification being an approach with growing interest.

In the present study, primer-probe sets for the detection of Salmonella enterica and S. enterica serovar Montevideo were developed based on comparative genomics. Genomic information of 706 strains of S. enterica, including 23 strains of serovar Montevideo, was retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) RefSeq and analyzed by the panX program.

Foodborne outbreaks are closely associated with the formation of biofilms. However, due to their complexity of the formation and structure, studies of dual-species biofilms are still required. The aim of this study was to analyse the dual-species biofilm of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas fluorescens by investigating the interactions between the two species.

Antimicrobial resistance in Listeria monocytogenes biofilms is considered a risk. When using disinfectants, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) must be contemplated to avoid resistance. The objective of the present study was to determine the MIC of four essential oils in four L. monocytogenes strains. Once the MICs were obtained, the effect of subinhibitory doses of the most effective oil was determined.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an important cause of human liver cancer. This study proposes a quantitative detection method for the AFB1 in corn based on Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy technology.

Presence of bacteria and its survival on produce surfaces is important in developing non-thermal processing interventions for food safety.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of pristimerin, a phenolic triterpenoid extracted from various plants, against Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Listeria monocytogenes and its biofilms can constitute a severe threat to public health. RSQ04 is a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis CGMCC20699 against L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115.

The detection and inhibition of Clostridium botulinum by probiotics' cell-free supernatants, as a bio-preservation strategy, were investigated in some Egyptian fish-stuffs i.e., canned sardines, fesikh, moloha, renga, and anchovy. The conventional and multiplex polymerase chain reaction were used to detect C.

Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) is one pathogenic fungus that severely endangers human health and food safety. In our previous work, paeonol, a natural active compound from Paeonia. spp can inhibit the growth of A. flavus, and the mode of action is involved with targeting cell walls and cell membranes.

Livestock-associated -Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) contamination on pork has emerged as one of the major concerns worldwide. Combinations of natural plant extracts (NPEs) and food preservatives were tested for their anti-MRSA activities.

Lactic-acid bacteria isolated throughout the ripening process from traditional RTE soft cheeses and dry-cured fermented sausages were characterized and selected for their anti-L. monocytogenes activity.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogen-like mycotoxin posing a great threat to human and animal health. The present study showed that the induction of spore CotA laccase production of Bacillus licheniformis by ions Mn2+ and Cu2+ promoted the ZEN-degrading ability of the strain.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxin that is widely present in food and feed and poses a serious threat to the health of humans and livestock. In this work, we proposed the quantitative detection method of AFB1 contamination using a simple, sensitive, and specific colorimetric immunoassay based on gold nanoparticles labeled with glucose oxidase (GOx)/rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin G.